Acts 5:12-42

Date: April 11, 2010
Week 6: Apostles Defend Their Faith (Acts 5:12-42)
Bible Study: Keep following God, even when it’s hard.

Acts 5

Continuing Power in the Church

¹² And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

Ÿ  All believers

Ÿ  Attached to the original temple of Solomon (960-587 BC) was "the porch of judgment" where king Solomon had constructed a large hall 50 cubits long and 30 cubits wide because of the enormous porch in front.

¹³ Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

Ÿ  No formalists or hypocrites

¹⁴ And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Ÿ  But so much the more were true believers added, because unbelievers kept at a distance.

Imprisoned Apostles Freed

¹⁷ Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, ¹⁸ and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

Ÿ  words which show the way to everlasting life

²¹ And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Apostles on Trial Again

²² But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, ²³ saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside^[a] before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴ Now when the high priest,^[b] the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. ²⁵ So one came and told them, saying,^[c] “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

Ÿ  Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted . . . not so we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honored with the services of our life.

²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?

Ÿ  those against the Gospel make laws that try to stop us from spreading it … laws that we cannot help but break

And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Ÿ  AMEN!5rcx

³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. ³¹ Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Ÿ  those who Love God are filled with the Holy Spirit

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.

Ÿ  God can raise defenders of his servants, whenever and wherever He wants

³⁵ And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.

Ÿ  just the facts ma’am . . . Gamaliel lays out the facts before his conclusion

³⁸ And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His^[d] name.

Ÿ  They have Joy in suffering for Jesus . . . now THAT is Love

Ÿ  James 1:2-3 --- 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

DISCUSSION:

Ÿ  Is it sometimes hard to be a Christian ?? . . . Why ??

Ÿ  Is your Faith ever challenged ??

Ÿ  Government Laws  versus being a Christian ??

Ÿ  What can we learn as parents from this lesson ?? . . How can we use it in parenting our kids ??

Ÿ   

REFERENCE  NOTES:

Background Who Was Gamaliel?
Gamaliel was a great teacher in the line of Jewish faith. The grandson of the great rabbi Hillel, he was a respected Pharisee and also part of the esteemed Sanhedrin. As a teacher of Old Testament law, he instructed Paul (named Saul at the time) as a Pharisee. This, of course, was before Paul’s conversion. It was Gamaliel who would later deter his colleagues from killing the apostles. His line of thinking was based on a trust in God. If the Christian movement was of God, it would logically flourish. If not, it would fail quickly.